[sims] Safeguarding

[MrMat]

Since the updated Ofsted framework more and more of our schools are asking how and/or where to record this info and at the moment and we don't really have an answer to give.

 

I've checked MyAccount and as far as i can tell, there doesn't seem to be any plans to bring Safeguarding functionality into SIMS.

 

So my question is, what are all you lovely folks doing in regards to recording Safeguarding issues etc? Are you using third party software? If so, opinions?

 

Thanks all.

[forkies]

From what I understand our safeguarding team use a spreadsheet and individual word documents for each student. They haven't asked for anything different or just don't want to move from the old ways. I am sure there is other software out there that someone else will mention, I would be interested to try and move our teams to the future rather then the past.

[bobsmith]

In my last school we contracted my baby brother to code a secure mysql database, hosted internally and encrypted each way from sunday - fully hierarchical permissions structure so only the right people only ever had access to full details, with summary info available to authorised teaching staff.

 

Also had read access to the CMIS database so it could pull through SEN info and other useful stuff.

 

Sadly they went to SIMS last year and it wasn't worth forking out the £££ to partner up.

 

Current school uses filing cabinets.....

[Dkeen94]

Our DSL uses a locked down access database with a basic form that i created for him. He is the only one who has the password and has access to the database.

[pete]

In SIMS linked documents, however.... the default* permissions as they stand are terrible - either too lax or not tight enough.

 

You've got a choice of:

 

Public - can read if you can log into SIMS. (too open)

Private - only the creator/uploader can read (fails the "hit by a bus" test)

Confidential - SLT, School Administrator & SEN Coordinator can read. (too open)

 

*Now you can (and we do) change the defaults by using custom groups in SIMS - for example, duplicate school admin, SLT and SEN Coordinator groups, explicitly remove permission from each group, create "confidential docs/logs access" group and add your child protection officers to this new group.

 

But you have to update/check those groups against the permissions spreadsheet (and possibly recreate them) every upgrade.

[vikpaw]

Forgive my ignorance - who should have access to the info?

Confidential permission Group allows access to only SMT, SEN and School Administrator - probably too broad...

Private is only the author IIRC

[vikpaw]

Another workaround, still not great, is to password protect the pdf so it's available but can't be opened. You get a bit of clarity to see items exist but can't open them.

[bobsmith]

To make it even more fun - the way we had it working - which seems to make some sense, the original author has access to it, but in addition the CP team (whoever they may be) would have access to it.

 

none of the default permissions groups seems to cater for this - unless I'm missing something?

[vikpaw]

No, by default it's not straight forward. Setting up a custom group makes sense.

[KateCo]

At my current school, we have are doing a few things – uploading documents to a students linked document, however before this is uploaded we password protect each of the documents then uploaded as public.

We have also created a few UDF fields to store the additional information, and added them to the welfare section, to limit who has access to these UDF.

[Edu-IT]

We looked at CURA - might do what you want. TASC Software | CURA

[Edu-IT]

Yes I agree, safeguarding is becoming more prominent in schools and we need to change. I have looked around at a few of these systems.

 

We used to use a excel spreadsheet and paper but it's a nightmare to manage, especially gathering info for social services.

 

If it helps we actually went with a company called Safeguard Software. They were the only one to support our procedures and policies. We asked them to add a feature in and it was done in a few hours.

 

Pricing obviously played a factor in this too - I looked at a few systems and some were horrendously priced - Cura and CPOMS being the expensive ones. I won't disclose how much we paid for safeguard but it was under £700 for a large school.

 

I think it's definitely worth shopping around. Think the safeguard website was *url removed*

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Yes I agree, safeguarding is becoming more prominent in schools and we need to change. I have looked around at a few of these systems.

 

We used to use a excel spreadsheet and paper but it's a nightmare to manage, especially gathering info for social services.

 

If it helps we actually went with a company called Safeguard Software. They were the only one to support our procedures and policies. We asked them to add a feature in and it was done in a few hours.

 

Pricing obviously played a factor in this too - I looked at a few systems and some were horrendously priced - Cura and CPOMS being the expensive ones. I won't disclose how much we paid for safeguard but it was under £700 for a large school.

 

I think it's definitely worth shopping around. Think the safeguard website was *url removed*.

I'd have concerns about trusting my data with a company that has been around 2 months, registered to a home address. That's just my two pence.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Dos_Box